Martina B. Arndt, Ph.D.

Professor of Physics

Chairwoman of the Physics Department

Bridgewater State University

Conant Science Building Room 212
Bridgewater, Massachusetts 02325
Office Phone: (508) 531-2084
Dept. Phone: (508) 531-1386
Fax: (508) 531-1785
BSU Observatory

My professional life in a nutshell: My undergraduate background is in astronomy, and after graduation, I had the good fortune to work with a great mentor, Dr. Shadia Habbal, and develop a love for solar physics. In graduate school, I did a 180 and turned my fear and dislike of physics into a love for it – and for teaching it. Immediately after earning my PhD in physics in 2000, I started teaching at BSU (though at that time, it was called BSC.) I have been happy here ever since – being able to teach intro and upper level courses in both astronomy and physics. I have helped play a role in bringing our public outreach in astronomy from student volunteers working with 1-3 telescopes in a run down facility off campus to a new observing complex with over 12 smaller telescopes and one 14 inch scope capping off our new $98.7 million science building – with paid student staff and a half-time observatory manager. Consider liking the BSU Observatory page on Facebook!

I enjoy engaging students in undergraduate research projects – I certainly benefitted from doing research as an undergrad at Wellesley. I have worked with students on projects ranging from measuring forces and motions of different athletic activities to images processing of solar eclipse data and I am now working with students on variable star projects. I still write grants with Dr. Habbal to NSF to support our solar eclipse research and education projects – we may be heading to Australia in 2012!

I have been able to engage in many administrative tasks to support student and faculty work on campus, like department chair and faculty associate in the new College of Science and Mathematics. BSU is a great place to teach and learn – for everyone! Feel free to contact me – or any of the other great members of our department if you are interested in coming for a visit or to learn more about the BSU Physics major.

Spring 2012 Courses and Office Hours

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
10:00 -11:00
11:00-12:00		Department Meeting
12:00-1:00	Elements of Physics II (12:20 – 1:35)		Elements of Physics II (12:20 – 1:35)		Chairs Workshops and CART meetings
1:00-2:00					Chairs Workshops and CART meetings
2:00-3:00					Chairs Workshops and CART meetings
3:00-4:00

Courses I have taught at BSU:

• Physics 107: Exploring the Universe, Fall 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003-2005 (lab only), 2007, Summer 2008 & 2009
• Physics 107: Energy and Its Social Uses, Fall 2004, 2007-2008 Spring 2006, 2009, 2011
• Physics 181: Elements of Physics I, Fall 2000 – 2006, 2008-2010
• Physics 182: Elements of Physics II, Spring 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009 - 2012
• Physics 183: Physics II for Aviation Science, Spring 2001- 2004, 2006, 2007
• Physics 199: First Year Seminar: "Discover the Cosmos!", Fall 2006
• Physics 244: General Physics II, Spring 2002 (lab only)
• Physics/PhysEd 298: SYS Tools for Understanding Sports Science, Fall 2009
• Physics/PhysEd 298 Honors: SYS Tools for Understanding Sports Science, Fall 2010
• Physics 403: Mathematical Methods, Spring 2003, 2004, 2010, Fall 2011
• Physics 408: Astrophysics, Fall 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2010
• Physics 414: Experimental Physics , Spring 2001, 2002
• Physics 433: Thermal Physics, Fall 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009; Spring 2011
• Physics 499: Directed Studies Fall 2008, 2010; Spring 2009
• Physics 560: Stellar Astrophysics, Summer 2002
• Physics 560: Physics of Sports, Summer 2003
• Physics 560: Standards Based Astronomy for Middle School, Summer 2004
• Physics 560: Solar Physics for Teachers Summer 2007
• Physics 560: Teaching Science with the Sun: Summer 2011
• Physics 560: Survey of Astronomy, Spring 2011

Information about Me

Ph.D. in Physics, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH	2000
M.S. in Physics, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH	1997
B.A. in Astronomy, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA	1991
Teaching Experience:
Department Chairwoman Bridgewater State University	August 2007 - Present
Professor Bridgewater State University	September 2011-present
Associate Professor Bridgewater State University	September 2006 – 2011
Professor Bridgewater State University Graduate School	2008 - present
Assistant Professor Bridgewater State University	September 2000 - 2006
Director of BSC Observatory Bridgewater State University	September 2000 - Present
Introduction to Modern Astronomy University of New Hampshire	Summers: 1999, 2002-2006
Introduction to Technical Physics University of New Hampshire	Spring, 1999
Director of UNH Observatory University of New Hampshire	1993 - 1995
Introduction to Modern Astronomy, Lab Instructor University of New Hampshire	Fall, 1993 Spring, 1995
Research Experience:
Education Consultant MIT Haystack Observatory	Spring, 2008/Summer 2009
Adrian Tinsley Undergraduate Research Mentor Bridgewater State University	2008 - present
Short Term Visitor Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory	Summer, 2002, 2003
Guest Research Professor University of Wales, Aberystwyth	March, 2002, 2003
Research Assistant University of New Hampshire	1993 - 2000
Research Assistant/Computer Specialist Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics	1991 - 1993
Undergraduate Researcher at various institutions: Wellesley College, Wesleyan University, Maria Mitchell Observatory, American Association of Variable Star Observers	1990 - 1991
Eclipse Expeditions:
Tatakoto, 2010 July 11 Funded by NSF Marshall Islands, 2009 July 22 Funded by NSF China, 2008 August 1 Funded by NSF and BSC Libya, 2006 March 29 Funded by NSF
South Africa, 2002 December 4 Funded by NSF
Zambia, 2001 June 21 Funded with BSC CART grants
Antigua/Guadalupe, 1998 February 26 Funded by NSF grant
Mongolia,1997 March 9 Partially funded by Sigma Xi Research Grant
Awards and Grants:
CART Summer Grant: Variable Stars Bridgewater State University	2011
Teacher Scholarship Summer Institute – pedagogy track Bridgewater State University	2010
Presidential Award for Distinguished Teaching Bridgewater State University	2010
Higher Education Resource Services (HERS) participant	2009-2010
Presidential Award for Excellence in Collaboration to Improve Teaching Bridgewater State University	2009
Eclipse Observations of Heavy Ions, Neutrals & Dust Grains in the Solar Corona National Science National Science Foundation	2008 (Supplemental funds granted in 2009)
Administrative Fellowship Bridgewater State University	2008-2009
TTC Classroom Response Systems Initiative Grant Bridgewater State University	2007
Polarimetric Imaging and Spectroscopy of the Coronal from 500 – 1500 nm during Total Solar Eclipses National Science Foundation	2005
Defining Information Literacy and Technology Outcomes within the Physics Major (2005) BSC Davis Educational Foundation Grant	2005
Summer Content Institute Massachusetts Department of Education	2004
CART Summer Grant Bridgewater State University	2002, 2003, 2006
Bridgewater Cultural Council Grant Massachusetts Cultural Council	2001
Faculty Librarian Research Grant Bridgewater State University	2000
CART Small and Travel Grants Bridgewater State University	2000
Space Grant NASA/UNH	1998
Outstanding Student Paper Award American Geophysical Union	1991
Sigma Xi Research Grant	1996
Student Assistantship American Astronomical Society	1994
Committee Work:
NEASC Self Study Planning and Evaluation Writing Committee Bridgewater State University	Fall 2010 - present
Center for the Advancement of Research and Teaching Advisory Board (CART) Bridgewater State University	Fall 2010 – present
Member of Advisory Board and New Teacher Academy Mentor Teachers for a New Era, Bridgewater State University	2006 - present
New Science Building Users Group Bridgewater State University	Fall 2008- present
President New England Section of American Association of Physics Teachers	Fall 2008-2010
Member of Advisory Board for ATP, an organization that supports undergraduate research Bridgewater State University	Fall 2007 – 2010
Committee for New School of Science and Mathematics Mission and Vision Statements Bridgewater State University	2009
Center for the Advancement of Research and Teaching Advisory Board (CART) Bridgewater State University	Fall 2002 – 2004
Outcomes Assessment Project Bridgewater State University	Fall 2002 - 2005
Science and Technology Education Partnership (STEP) Board of Directors Community of Plymouth	Fall 2001 - 2005
South Shore Regional Science Fair Bridgewater State University and SSRSF	Fall 2002 - present
NEASC Self Study, Admission and Retention Writing Committee Bridgewater State University	Spring 2001 - Fall 2002

Publications/Presentations

This file last modified on January 2, 2012